After my coffee date with Courtney was over, she informed me that she had to head home to do some homework. She had wanted to leave sort of suddenly, which concerned me ever so slightly but I supposed that even being Courtney's girlfriend wasn't going to make me immune to the fact that she could be entirely, all too unpredictable at times. I only hoped that she was okay. The mere thought of her made my heart skip a beat and my mind wish that she was there with me again. However, if there was one thing that I had learnt over my many, many years of fawning over Emmy, then it was that love is patient.

I wasn't sure whether I could describe my feelings for Courtney as love yet, but I knew that I was more than capable of feeling that way for her in the future. I had been able to show her a kindness that I knew had always existed within me, but I hadn't been able to show it to Emmy. She hadn't felt that way for me and I had learnt to understand that over time. I knew that I would always do anything for her. She was my best friend, of course. However, I couldn't be there for her in the same way that I was for Courtney. I hadn't ever believed that I would have been able to move on from Emmy, but I was so glad that it was getting easier, each and every day.

Emmy was always going to be my best friend but I realised, when I entered the cafe down the road from the school, that she didn't need me as much as she used to. She had Lois now. The two of them were sat together in the cafe.

I supposed that Lois had probably finished her last shift of work. My mind wondered for a moment on the fact of whether it was a good idea to go and talk to them. They seemed pretty deep into their conversation and I didn't want to cause a disturbance.

That being said, Emmy soon waved her hand at me and beckoned me over, so I walked towards their table.

I took the seat beside them and looked between the two of them.

"Hey Phoebs," Emmy said, "How are you? How was school? How are you and Courtney?" she asked me.

"We're all good," I said.

At least, I believed that to be the case.

"Are you sure about that, Phoebe Clarke?" Emmy asked me.

I raised an eyebrow at her use of my full name.

Lois' eyes appeared to be analysing my expression in the way that they always seemed to.

I was half-convinced that the girl could read minds, in all honesty.

That really wouldn't surprise me.

I gave the two of them a friendly smile, but they remained unconvinced.

"What's going on, sweetie?" Lois asked me, as she ran a hand through her, now dyed black, hair. Lois was the kind of person that wouldn't give up when she wanted answers to a question, I just wasn't sure what to tell her. Your ex-girlfriend and my current girlfriend is one of the most entirely unpredictable women that I have ever met? I wasn't sure that was fair on Courtney. I knew she was going through a rough spot, especially when it came to her dad.

"I know Courtney better than anyone. After all, I was her girlfriend. Let me guess, she just walked-"

"I don't think you do know Courtney better than anyone," I replied, "I'm her girlfriend. Her current girlfriend. It's my job to know her the best."

"Damn, Phoebe. I didn't know you could be so competitive," Lois replied.

"Well, Courtney is important to me and I don't want people imposing in our business," I said.

"Well, Emmy, would you like another drink? I doubt I'll be getting Phoebe one any time soon," Lois said, as her eyes narrowed at me. She stood up from the table and went to order the two of them some lattes.

In the meantime, Emmy turned her attention back to me and sighed. Concern flickered in her eyes and I had this feeling that she was going to expect me to apologise.

What exactly did I need to apologise for? Lois had decided to make that comment in the first place. Usually I was warm to other people but Lois had just made me feel as though we had entered the Antarctic.

"Hey, don't take it so personally. Lois can be somewhat arrogant at times. Believe me, I would know," she told me.

"Are you two official now?" I wondered aloud.

The corner of Emmy's lips twitched up slightly.

"I thought I had already told you that," she said to me.

"Well, I don't feel as though I hear much from you anymore, Emmy, in all honesty. You're always spending time with Lois," I said.

Emmy's lips turned into a straight line, then, which was ironic because nothing about Emmy had been straight since she had met Lois Gracewood.

"You're eighteen, Phoebe, do you mind growing the hell up? This isn't about you. If I'm happy, then why can't you be happy for me?" Emmy asked me.

I hadn't seen her so angry before. Her cheeks looked pink like a drunk elephant. I wasn't sure if drunk elephants actually became pink, I just saw that in a movie once.

"You think you can intimidate me, Emmy, but you can't. I may be small but I am strong because I spent long enough loving you and not having you love me back which made me realise that!" I blurted and then immediately regretted what I had said.

Everyone was now looking at me. Everyone.

I shouldn't have said anything. It didn't matter anymore. I had Courtney. However, I still had held this inside for so long and it had ended up just coming out at the most inconvenient of times.

Then, before I could even think the day could get any worse, Courtney was found standing right behind me.